Coach-step.



No. 644,842. Patented Mar, 6, I900.

T. BEECHER.

COACH STEP.

A lication filed July 20 1899.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet l.

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PATENT THOMAS BEECI-IER, OF NEW HAVEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR OF ONE HALF TO JOHN- A. HULL, OF SAME PLACE.

COACH-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 644,842, dated March 6, 1900.

Application filed July 20, 1899. Serial No. 724,515. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS BEECHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have inventedcertain newand usefullmprovementsin Coach-Steps, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in coach-steps, its object being to improve the construction thereof and to facilitate and cheapen the cost of manufacture.

To this end my invention consists of the coach-step having certain details of construction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, in which like numerals designate like parts in the several Views, Figure 1 is a view of the under side of the step, showing the fastening-cleats. Fig.2 is a side elevation of the step. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of Fig. 1 upon line 1 1. Fig. 4 is a sectional View of Fig. 1 upon line 2 2. Fig. 5 is aview of the under side of the tread-bar frame. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the said tread-bar frame. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary under side view of the step, showing a modification of the fastening device. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of Fig. 7 upon line 3 3. Fig. 9 is aplan view of a tread-bar frame having'rubber step-pads. Fig. 10 is atransverse section of one of the pads and channel-bars, taken on line A B of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section of the tread'bar frame upon line D D of Fig. 9.

The numeral 1 designates the step-frame,

which is preferably made of wrought metal and may be of any desired shape or size. Projecting laterally from one side of the said frame is the integral shank 2, which is designed to be forged to the step-bracket, that is fastened to the .body of the coach or carriage.

' tially flush with the top of the tread-bar The top side of the shank is substan The fastening-cleats 4 are turned over into recesses made in the bottom of the frame, (see Fig. 1,) forming a bottom flange, and

that edge 6 of the shank which abuts against the flange 3 is turned overupon the top thereof, thus insuring a strong connection and a fine finish. That portion of the body of the tread-bar frame which is immediately adjacent to the shank 2 isrounded to conform to the contour of said shank, and a fastening-screw 5 prevents them from becoming separated. The parts'are finished by either filing or polishing, leaving the upper and lower surfaces of the step smooth and flat without projecting parts.

Many ways have been devised to securely fasten tread-bars in the step-frame, but all have proved unsatisfactory, either because the constant jar upon the step loosens them or because the cost of manufacture is too great.

By constructing a step as herein described the tread-bars are all rigidly sccu red together and being of cast metal can be cheaply produced. The step-frame is securely fastened to the tread-bar frame by the shrinking process, aided by the upper flange and the fastening-cleats. Instead of fastening-cleats I can use screws 7, (see Figs. 7 and 8,) which are screwed into a threaded hole formed in both of the frames, the top of the screws being slightly below the surface of said frames. After the screws are inserted that portion of the frames immediately surrounding the screwholes is upset to close the open end thereof and effectually prevent the screws from becoming dislodged by jar or wear.

It is not essential that a recess should be formed in the bottom of the step-frame for the reception-of the cleats 4;; neither is it absolutely necessary to shrink the step-frame upon the tread-bar frame, as it maybe rigidly secured by the aid of the flange 3 and the cleats 4.

In Fig. 9 I have illustrated a tread-bar frame having the usual rubber pads 8 for the tread inplace of the metal bars, as above described. The pads 8, which are T shape in cross-section, are inserted in the channel-bars 10, integral with the tread-bar frame, and securely fastened therein by means of screws 9, which pass through the bottom of said channel-bar into the pads. It has been customary to hold these pads in place by pressing the sides of the channel-bars together, and thus pinching the pads. After much use, however, the pads become loosened and drop out, marring the beauty and usefulness of the step. By my improved means the pads are fastened securely in place and cannot be removed eX- cept by design.

I-Iavin'g described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a carriage-step the combination of a tread-barframe having an overhangingflange and fastening-cleats, of a step-frame sur rounding the body portion of said tread-bar frame and shrunk thereon, whereby the said frames become inseparable, substantially as described.

2. In a carriage-step the combination with a tread bar frame having an overhanging flange upon the top side and fastening-cleats which form a flange upon the bottom side thereof, of a step-frame surrounding the body portion of said tread-bar frame, the said overhanging flange being against one side and the 4. In a carriage-step having a plurality of channel tread-bars, the combination therewith of a plurality of rubber pads which are adapted to be inserted in the said channelbar and means, as locking-screws, for rigidly securing said pads within the said channel tread-bars, substantially as described.

5. In a carriage-step the combination with a tread-bar frame 3 having a plurality of channel tread-bars 10, of a plurality of rubber pads 8 substantially T shape in crosssection, the body portion of which is adapted to be inserted in said channel-bars and locking-screws, as 9, for fastening the said pads within the said channel bars, substantially as described,

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS BEEOHER. WVitnesses:

GEORGE E. HALL, EDWIN M. CLARK. 

